ws of the apartment afforded a full view of the terrace which
commanded the town. The staff was established in a neighboring gallery,
and the general proceeded at once to hold a council of war on the measures
to be taken for opposing the debarkation.

After having despatched an aide-de-camp to Marshal Ney, with orders to
plant batteries along the coast, the general and his staff turned their
attention to the prisoners. Two hundred Spaniards, whom the inhabitants
had surrendered, were shot down upon the terrace.

After this military execution, the general ordered as many gallows to be
erected on the terrace as there were prisoners in the hall of the castle,
and the town executioner to be brought. Victor Marchand made use of the
time from then until dinner to go and visit the prisoners. He soon
returned to the general.

"I have come," said he, in a voice broken with emotion, "to ask you a
favor."

"You?" said the general, in a tone of bitter irony.

"Alas!" replied Victor, "it is but a melancholy errand that I am come on.
The Marquis has seen the gallows being erected, and expresses a hope that
you will change the mode of execution for his family; he entreats you to
have the nobles beheaded."

"So be it!" said the general.

"They further ask you to allow them the last consolations of religion, and
to take off their bonds; they promise not to attempt to escape."

"I consent," said the general; "but you must be answerable for them."

"The old man also offers you the whole of his fortune if you will pardon
his young son."

"Really!" said the general. "His goods already belong to King Joseph; he
is under arrest." His brow contracted scornfully, then he added: "I will
go beyond what they ask. I understand now the importance of the last
request. Well, let him buy the eternity of his name, but Spain shall
remember forever his treachery and its punishment. I give up the fortune
and his life to whichever of his sons will fulfil the office of
executioner. Go, and do not speak to me of it again."

Dinner was ready, and the officers sat down to table to satisfy appetites
sharpened by fatigue.

One of them only, Victor Marchand, was not present at the banquet. He
hesitated for a long time before he entered the room. The haughty family
of Leganes were in their agony.

He glanced sadly at the scene before him; in this very room, only the
night before, he had watched the fair heads of those two young girls and
those three